Manchester United target Harry Maguire is no closer to departing Leicester City for the Red Devils, according to manager Brendan Rodgers.The England international featured for the full 90 minutes of the Foxes’ pre-season friendly with Stoke at the weekend, as speculation continues to swirl around his future.Maguire, who joined Leicester in the wake of their famous Premier League title-winning season, has been a standout performer for the club since his arrival, and was a key man for his country at last year’s World Cup in Russia. Article continues below Editors’ Picks Emery out of jail – for now – as brilliant Pepe papers over Arsenal’s cracks What is Manchester United’s ownership situation and how would Kevin Glazer’s sale of shares affect the club? Ox-rated! Dream night in Genk for Liverpool ace after injury nightmare Messi a man for all Champions League seasons – but will this really be Barcelona’s? Since then, he has been consistently linked with a move to Old Trafford, first when Jose Mourinho was at the helm and subsequently after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins.The club, as well as rivals and champions Manchester City, both tabled offers earlier this year for the 26-year-old, which Leicester subsequently rejected.United however have been undeterred and are widely tipped to get their man before the transfer window closes in August.However, former Celtic boss Rodgers has described himself as “relaxed” over the rumour mill that suggests the centre-back’s impending departure.”He’s been brilliant since the first day of pre-season,” the manager stated.”There’s a lot of speculation around Harry, but he’s just got on with it. Like I’ve always said, we’re all pretty relaxed with it.”We’re looking to prepare the whole team and squad and Harry’s a part of that. He was excellent [Saturday], he’s working very hard.”There’s no discussion. I know you guys [the media] are looking for updates, but there’s no change from the other night.”Regarding whether Leicester would point-blank refuse to sell after a certain peiod, due to the club’s lack of time to secure a replacement, he added: “I haven’t really thought about that.”We have two weeks left to go in the window for all of the players. I think it’s just a case of everyone staying focused.”Rodgers will see his side open their new Premier League campaign at the King Power Stadium on August 11, when they host last year’s surprise package Wolves.Nuno Santo’s side will be hoping to replicate the Foxes’ own post-promotion feats and transform themselves into a genuine major top-flight side.read more

VANCOUVER — Vancouver home sales fell sharply in December and new listings plummeted as the cooling of what was once the country’s hottest real estate market continued.The Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver said Thursday home sales in December totalled 1,142, down 31.1%compared with a year ago and down 32% from November 2012.The MLS home price index composite benchmark price for residential properties in the region was also lower, down 2.3% from a year ago.“We saw home prices come down a bit during the latter half of the year. During the same period, we saw fewer home sales and listings,” board president Eugen Klein said in a statement.New listings fell 15.3% compared with a year ago and were half those seen in November.For the full year, the board reported 25,032 home sales for 2012, down 22.7% from 2011 and 25.7% below the 10-year average for the region.The number of homes for sale on the MLS system in the Vancouver region was down two per cent in 2012 at 58,379 compared with the previous year.Housing sales in Canada have cooled since changes in the borrowing rules by the federal government, aimed at discouraging homebuyers from borrowing too much, kicked in last summer.The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions also tightened its lending guidelines.The easing on the housing market also comes as concerns about the economy continue.Last month, the Canadian Real Estate Association cut its sales forecast for 2012 and 2013.The industry association said it expected home sales for 2012 to slip 0.5% compared with 2011 to about 456,300, while sales for 2013 are expected to drop two per cent to 447,400.The Canadian Pressread more